Daily Bread - JAN/14/08

Revelation 2:27 - And he shall rule them with a rod of iron as vessels of pottery are broken in pieces just as I also have received from my Father.

There will be no way that anyone can resist the holy and divine rule that God grants to those who receive this power to rule along with Jesus. Every opposition and rebellion will be crushed with the same ease and effectiveness that a rod of iron can shatter a vessel of clay. This is a quote from Psalms 2:9, "You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall shatter them in pieces like a potter's vessel." When this Psalm is quoted again in Revelation 19:15 the Greek word 'patasso,' which means to 'smite,' is included, "And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should smite (patasso) the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron".

There are four verses of scripture that take up this message of the time in which Christ and the resurrected saints will rule the nations with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:9; Revelation 2:27; 12:5; 19:15). The absolute will of God will be done in the earth. The kings and the princes of the earth have attempted to tear off the bands and snap off the yoke of the Lord but they will never be successful (Psalms 2:2). The earth and all of its fullness belongs to the one who created it. Every power, authority, and rule will be subjugated to God. The governments of men that will not comply will be crushed to pieces as a potter's vessel is shattered. Every evil and wicked way that is an offense to life and the ways of God will be destroyed. Today there are many environmental protection agencies that work to pass laws to protect the rights of the smallest and most insignificant little creatures. God passed the laws that protect all of life and its glorious eternal existence, and these laws cannot be compromised. There are many who have a problem with the severity of God as though in some way His laws are unjust (Romans 11:22; 2 Corinthians 5:11). However, without the strict observance to His law of life there would be nothing but death and chaos. God desires to rule over us in His loving kindness and tender mercies, but, as the protector of life and the innocent, He will destroy the transgressors who through their sins and iniquity violate the sacredness of life. Even today in the ministry of Jesus His winnowing fork is in His hand and He will separate out the wicked from the righteous (Matthew 3:12; Luke 3:17). It does not end there; for the axe is also laid to the root, and every evil tree that does not bring for good fruit will be cut down (Matthew 3:10; 7:19; Luke 3:9; John 15:6). God's hatred burns hot against sin and iniquity and we must come to know His heart and mind on this matter that we may feel the same way He does so that none of these things find a place in our lives.

God's enemies must be our enemies. His righteous cause must become our cause. The redeemed have been appointed to also rule and reign with Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 20:4-6; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; Revelation 3:21; 5:10). At the same time, we must also recognize that it essential that we overcome every power, authority, and rule that is unlike God that would attempt to impose its will on us. We have been given authority as the sons of God to crush every power of darkness and every realm of rebellion and iniquity. As the priests and kings of God we cannot allow those things that God has condemned to exist in any way in our lives. If one day we are to rule others crushing every opposing thing to the word and the ways of God we must learn to rule ourselves in such a way today.

Today God shepherds us with a pastoral rod which both protects and corrects us. The door has been opened to all mankind to come and voluntarily yield to the loving and merciful rule of our Savior, Christ the Lord. Yet one day in the future everything that does not yield will be smashed to pieces and cast out of the realms of life forever. One day in the future all sin and rebellion will be eradicated as it is the plague of death, and death - which is the final enemy - will also be destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:24-26). All of mankind rejoiced when we were able to eradicate small pox, but a far worse plague exists that most men are totally unaware of. If mankind's eyes were opened they would see that the plague of sin is the power behind all sickness, disease, and death. However, those of us who do see realize that Jesus received power and authority from the Father to wipe sin out forever (Acts 13:33; Psalms 2:7; Romans 1:4; Hebrews 1:2,5; 5:5; 7:28; Hebrews 2:14; 2 Timothy 1:10; 1 John 3:8). He has transferred this power to us as well through the sonship ministry that He has given (Luke 10:19; John 1:12; John 3:1; Revelation 1:5-6, 9; 2 Corinthians 2:15- 21). The authority that we have to exercise the rule of God over our own lives is so powerful that every opposing force is little more than a fragile clay pot that is easily smashed when struck by the iron rod of authority. Let us say with the Psalmist, The scepter of your kingdom is a right scepter (Psalms 45:6; Hebrews 1:8).

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org